title: Head and neck manifestations of distant carcinomas.
abstract: Metastatic tumors to the head and neck from distant carcinomas are rare lesions that epitomize the "zebras." They represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians and health providers. These lesions usually rank low in the differential diagnosis list, but a history of cancer should prompt clinicians about the possibility of a metastatic lesion from a distant carcinoma. The presence of these lesions usually represents a poor prognosis. The surgeon's role in treating these lesions is to improve or maintain the patient's quality of life, taking into consideration the overall prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Health Science Center, 653-1 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, FL 32209, USA. luis.vega@jax.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Luis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dipasquale
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutta
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate